Discharge bucket



Jan; 26, 1943. J. H. THORNLEY DISCHARGE BUCKET Filed oct. 21, 141

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Patented Jan. 26, 19443 UNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE I 2,309,284 DISCHARGE BUCKET Joseph Harry Thornley, Chicago, Ill. Application Gctober 21, 1941, Serial No. 415,865 l Claim. (Cl. 294-72) The present invention relates to improvements in discharge buckets and it relates more particularly to an improved type of discharge bucket for depositing sand, grout, or the like which is completely operated by a single cable.

Presently, in the buckets employed for depositing sand or grout at the bottom of a caisson shaft or other hole, or the surface below the loading surface, a minimum of two cables is required, at least one cable for transporting and supporting the bucket and at least one other cable for electing the discharge of the material from said bucket. The use of the two line buckets necessitates the employment of abundant and expensive rigging which results in frequent fouling and loss of time.

Therefore, the main object of my invention is to provide an improved bucket for hauling and discharging materials such as grout, sand or the like in which the use of an additional cable for discharging the contents of the bucket is obviated.

Another object of my invention is to provide a single line transporting and discharging bucket, the discharge mechanism associated with said bucket being activated by the removal of the downward pull upon the supporting line such as when the bucket is brought to rest upon the ground.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a hauling and discharge bucket having a disf charge aperture and a closure for said aperture, and means for automatically removing said closure from engagement with said aperture when the downward pull of the bucket upon the line is removed.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the following description and drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, it being understood that the above statement of the objects of my invention is intended generally to explain the same without limiting it in any manner.

Fig. l is a sectional view along the line I-I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view partially in section and partially broken away, of my improved bucket.

Referring to the drawing, B designates the body portion of a bucket embodying my invention, said body portion having the vertical cylindrical wall 4. Projecting inwardly from the inner face of cylindrical wall 4 adjacent the lower edge thereof is the peripheral shoulder 5, said shoulder having the bevelled edge 6. A disc-shaped closure member 8 having its peripheral edge bevelled is adapted to snugly fit in the aperture 9 surrounded by the shoulder 5 and to substantially hermetically seal said aperture. Passing through axial bore il! formed in closure member 8 is the eye bolt I I, said eye bolt engaging the WasherIZ and nut I3 at its lower threaded end. Diametrically positioned in the top of Wall 4 is the cross piece I4 which cross piece has a centrally located aperture through which freely passes the rod I5, said rod I5 having loops formed at each end thereof, the lower loop engaging the eye bolt I A collar I'I clamped to rod I5 by means of a clamping screw I8 limits the downward movement of rod I5 and closure member I8.

The main cable or line I is joined to the upper part of the strap member 2 by means of the shackle 3, said strap member 2 supporting the bail line 20 which bail line 20 has its free ends engaged by brackets I9 which are positioned on the upper outer faces of wall 4. Bail hne 20 is of such length that it will support the body member of the bucket only when' the tripping device has been disengaged from the rod I5.

The strap member 2 possesses the depending arms 2| which arms have pivotally positioned therebetween by means of pin 22 the tripping lever L, said tripping lever being of the ybell or angular type and having an engaging hook 23 positioned at one end and a rcounterweight 24 positioned at the other end thereof. The counterweight 24 impels the lever to rotate counterclockwiseand a downward force on the hook `member 23 causes a clockwise rotation. The open portion of the hook member 23 faces a direction opposite to that to which it is caused to rotate by the counter-weight 24.

The improved bucket operates as follows:

While the .bucket is at rest, line I is lowered and trip lever L rotated until the hook member 23 engages the upper loop of rod I5 and thereafter the line I is slightly raised causing the closure member 8 to seal the discharge opening 9 and lifting the entire .bucket a short distance. The weight of the body and :closure members of the bucket acting downwardly through the rod I5, maintain the lever L in the untripped position as illustrated in Fig. 2. The bucket is then loaded and transported to the desired point of discharge where it is lowered and momentarily brought to rest upon the ground, `and the line I is still further lowered. At this point, the downward pull on hook member 23 through rod I5 is removed thus allowing lever L to rotate because of counterweight 24 and causing member 23 to disengage the upper loop of rod I5. Thereafter line I is raised carrying with it the bucket through bail line 20, closure member 8 falling to its lowermost position, its downward motion being limited by the collar member I1 on rod I5, said collar members movement being arrested by the cross piece I4. In this position the contents of the bucket are discharged and the said bucket is transported to the loading station and the same procedure repeated.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is clear that numerous :changes and omissions can be made Without departing from its spirit.

For example, I have shown my improved bucket of cylindrical sha-pe but it is quite obvious that said bucket may assume any desired shape or form. This and many other changes may be made Without departing from the scope of the invention.

Wherever in thel claims I refer tol a bucket, I Wish it to be understood that is meant to include the bucket proper and its associated closure tripping mechanism.

I claim:

A device for transporting and discharging materials comprising -a body member, said body member having a discharge opening formed in the base thereof, a closure member adapted to engage and seal said opening and being restrained from passing through and above said opening, said closure member having a rod secured thereto and projecting thereabove, which rod has an eye positioned at its upper end, a closure locking mechanism, said closure locking mechanism comprising a strap member having a lpair of depending arms, which arms have pivoted therebetween a bell-type tripping lever having a counterweight positioned at one end and a hook member positioned at the other end thereof, said hook member being adapted to engage the eye of the vertical rod, a cross-piece positioned at the upper part of the bucket, said cross-piece having an opening formed therein through which the rod slidably passes, said rod having a stop member positioned thereon above said cross-piece, said stop member being slidably adjustable along said rod.

JOSEPH HARRY THORNLEY. 

